Automobile-signal.



H. T- HANDLE.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION man AUG.16| 191s.

Patentsfi May 15, 1917.

HIS ETTORNEIS.

HilEtlt'tY T. BANDLE, OF ST. LOUEE', IVIISSQUEI, ASSEGIN'QER OF ONE-FOURTH T GEORGE A. CL'B'ULKA, GE ST. LOUIS, IVIISSUURI.

AUTGMQBILE-SIGINF 12.

5.3". lication filed llueusi; 1S, 1916.

2"0 all whom it may concern: Be it lrnown that 1, linear T. liaisons citizen ofthe United States, residing e city of St. Louis, State of ll'llissouri, ve invented a new and useful AutomobileSigned of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile sig- An object of theinvention is to provide a signal adapted to be applied to an automo bile or other vehicle and consisting of supporting arm or fixture and a movable m o apted to be connected to the supporting i and to be moved into and out of signaling position, and equipped with an illuminating device which is placed in circuit with a source of electrical energy as an in cident to movement to signaling position, and which is placed out of circuit as an incident to movement out of signalin position, in combination with appropriate actuating connections for moving the movable arm to operative and inoperative positions, and optional means for controlling the actuconnections.

M object of the invention is to p" vide a signaling element of the characte. described, in combination with a handle connected with the movable arm by means of a suitable link and lever, whereby initial movement of the handle in one direction will move the arm to operative position in which a lamp thereon will be ilhiminated and subsequent movement of the handle in the same direction will move the arm to in operative position in which the lamp will be placed out of circuit, whereby the lamp is illuminated only during the time that the arm is in its operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved signaling device for automobiles comp ising a movable arm having a lamp thereon anda support for ho lding the arm in idle or inoperative position in which the lamp is out of circuit, in combination with an actuating handle, a bell. crank lever connected with the handle, and link connecting the bell crank lever with the arm, whereby movement of the handle in one direction will swing the arm from inoperative to operative position and incidentally cause the lamp to be lighted, a subsequent movement of the handle in the same direction returning the arm to inoperative Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Serial No. 115,143.

embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the drawings in which the same isillustrated, and in which- Figure l is a plan view illustrating two signaling devices applied to opposite sides of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation of the signaling device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view.

Fig l is a correspondingly enlarged side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5. of Fig. 4.

F 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating in detail the parts by which the lamp is placed in and out of circuit by movement of the pivoted arm.

7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-3 of Fig. 5.

8 is an enlarged sectional View illus trating additional details of the lamp and signal.

The invention illustrated'is particularly adapted to be applied to the forward portion of an automobile and as illustrated in the drawings it is applied to the upright side frame members of the wind shield. .T 90 have illustrated one of the signals at each side of the automobile and since the two signals are alike a description of one will be sufficient. The same reference characters are applied to the parts of the two signals.

Each signal comprises an arm 1 attached by means of a clamp 52 to one of the upright side members 3 of the wind shield. The arm 1 is preferably tubular and incloses one of the circuit wires l leading from a source of 100 electrical energy for the purpose of illuminating the lamp when it is moved to operative position. The arm 1 supports acontact member 5 to which the wire 4 is attached, said member 5 being insulated from 105 the arm 1 by'an insulating bushing 6.

The movable arm 7 is also tubular and is mounted on a pivot 9 supported by the arm 1. The arm 7 is mounted on a reduced portion of the pivot 8 and is held from lateral movement in one direction by a shoulde at the inner extremity of the reduced portion and is held from movement; in the opposite direction by a nut 9 threaded on a projection on the reduced portion and seating against a. shoulder thereon. A wire 1? passes through the arm 7 and is connected at one end to a binding screw or bolt 11 mounted in an insulating bushing 12 and constituting the binding; device for a resilient contact member 13.

lVlien the arm 7 is folded inwardly the members 5 and 13 are out of contact so that. the circuit is open, and when the arm "I is extended outwardly said members are in contact and the circuit is closed. The outer extremity of the arm 7 supports a contact member ll 112 'ing an electric lamp. This contact member is ofthe usual and well understood construction and is connected to the wire 10. The lamp 15 is supported by a bracket comprising two spring arms l6. and is inclosed within a case 17 which is preferably of ornamental form and. as shown, is in the form of an arrow head. The upper and lower walls of the case are metallic and the front and rear side walls are glass of any preferred color.

The arm 1 may be provided with a laterally extending arm 18 to serve as a rest or supportfor the arm 7 when the latter is extending outwardly. so that said arm 7 will be sustained in a horizontal position. The arm 7 supports adjacent to the lamp case a number of radial obliquely disposed arms 19 attached to a single revoluble hub and acting as a wind wneel so that they are revolved upon their axis by the air when the vehicle in motion andthe arm 7 is extended. The revoluble element composed of the movable arms 19 serves to attract attention to the signal when it is'operated. The arms are made to revolve outwardly in the direction in which the vehicle about to turn. thus indicating that fact to those approacaing from the rear or from the front.

The arm 7 has an angular extension '20 from which a link 21 leads to the reaiwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever The bell crank lever '22 is pivoted upon a bracket carried by the dash board of the automobile. so that by operating the bell. (rank lever the arm '7 may be folded inwardly as shown at the right of Figs. 1 and or out-- wardly as shown at the left of these views of the drawing.

A handle link Ql has its forward end connected. to the laterally ext(aiding arm of the bell crank lever. Said handle link passes through and is supported by a bracket attached to the steering column and is provided with a handle 26 in convenient position for manual engagement by the chant feurs or driver of the automobile. For supporting the arm 7 in its inward position a bracket arm 27 is provided. The afrmQY preferably protected by an elastic cushion for receiving the impact of the arm 7 when it is folded inwardly to prevent damage or injury to any of the parts.

The angular extension 20 on the arm 7 is arranged approximately at right angles to the axis of thepivot 8 so that said extension extends vertically when the arm T is in folded position, and also when said arm is extended outwardly as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. is a result of this arrangement quick movement of the handle link 2i in one direction will move the arm 7 toward vertical position. whence its momentum will carry it to operativeor extended position in which the lamp thereon. will be illuminated, it being: undeistra d that the handle link is released about the time that the arm reaches a nearly vertical. position in order to permit the momentum to *arry the arm over; and subsequent quick movement'of the handle link Ql in the same direction will move the arm 7 again. toward vertical. position.

" whence its. momentum will carry it to folded position. the handle link again being released as the arm T approaches vertical position in order to permit the momentum of the arm to carry it over. The lamp out of circuit when the arm 7 is folded. This arrangement. by which a movement of the handle link in one direction will throw the arm toward extended position and in which subsequent movement of the handle linkin the same direction will throw the arm 7 toward folded position. is very convenient and avoids any confusion which might arise in case movement of the handle link in opposite directions was required to actuate the movable arm 7 toward and from folded position.

A wire 29 constitutes the other wire of the circuit and in the form shown is in circuit with the lamp through the metallic parts of the arms 1 and 7. Thus the circuit is made complete when the contact members 5 and 1. 3 are brought into contact.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A signal comprising a support. an arm pivoted on the support, an illuminating element on the arm. a source of electrical en a circuit for supplying and illumi llilLlllg said element. a bracket for supporting said arm. in folded position. a handle, and connections from said handle to said arm wherelvv movement of said handle in one direction will extend said arm outwardly from a folded position and a subsequent movement of said handle in the same direction will move said arm again to folded position.

2. A. signal, comprising a vertical sup port. a stationary arm secured to said su port, a movable arm pivoted on said stationary arm, an illuminating element on the movable arm, a wire carried by said movable arm for conducting electrical energy to said illuminating element, a source of electrical energy, a circuit wire carried by said stationary arm for supplying energy to said wire to illuminate said element, means for supporting said movable arm in folded position, a handle,.and connections from said handle to said arm whereby movement of .said handle in one direction will impart a movement to said arm by which it will be extended outwardly from folded position, and subsequent movement of said handle in the same direction will impart a movement to said arm by which it will be moved again to folded position,

3. A signal, comprising a support, an arm pivotally carried by the-support and movable from a folded position outwardly to an unfolded position, an illuminating element supported by said arm, electrical means for illuminating said illuminating element as an incident to movement of said arm from folded position outwardly to an unfolded position as aforesaid, an actuator, and connections from said actuator to said arm, whereby movement of said actuator in one direction will impart a movement to said arm by which it will be extended from folded position outwardly to an unfolded position, and a subsequent movement of said actuator in the same direction will impart a movement to said arm by which it will be moved again to folded position.

4;. A signal, comprising an arm, means for fastening said arm to one of the upright side members of the wind shield of an automobile, a movable arm pivoted on said firstnamed arm, a wire passing through said first-named a rm, a wire passing through said movable arm, contact members whereby said wires are placed in circuit when said movable arm is extended relative to said firstnained arm, and whereby said wires are out of circuit when said movable arm is folded relative to the first-named arm, a source of electrical energy for energizing said wires, a lamp carried by said movable arm and illuminated by the energy of said wires,

when said wires are in circuit as aforesaid,

and an actuating handle for moving said movable arm to and from folded position.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY T. HANDLE.

Vitnesses N. G. BUTLER, Jon): D. RIPPEY. 

